Door operating mechanism



DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 12,1935. 5. MADSEN 1,994,142

DOOR OPERATING MECHANI SM Fiied April 24, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.ZQILQQLIQLI 7zzvezzfoz 6km YZZadaeZz March 12, 1935. s. MADSEN1,994,142

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 24, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mawPatented Mar. 12, 1935 noon OPERATING MECHANISM Sern Madsen, Clinton,Iowa, asslgnor, by means assignments, to The Yoder-Morris Company-Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation ofO hio;

Application April 24, 1930, seriaino.;44s,94r 6 Claims. (01.20-19) Theobject of my invention is to provide a door of the type made in sectionsand hinged along horizontal lines with tracks for supporting the doorand relative to which the door may be moved from a vertical closedposition to a horizontal position adjacent the ceiling or roof of agarage or other building in which the door is mounted; the door andsupporting means itself being of simple, durable and inexpensiveconstruction.

A further object is to provide L shaped supporting tracks and rollerswhich are secured to the side edges of the door sections, the verticalportions of the tracks being adapted for securing to the vertical sidejambs of the door opening and the backwardly curved horizontal portions1 of the track being adapted for securing to a celling or roof so thatthe door may assume a hor izontal position beneath the ceiling or roofand out of the way when it is open.

Another object is to provide a track of such cross-sectional shape thatit may serve both as a track and a wind stop adjacent the edges of thedoor.

Still a further object is to provide balancingmeans forcounter-balancing the weight of the door, such means consisting of aspring operated shaft, cable drums and cables, the shaft being mountedin bearings which are supported on the horizontal portions of the track.Y

A further object is to provide a counter-balancing means of novelconstruction whereby assembly and mounting thereof is facilitated.

Another object is to provide a safety bolt arrangement whereby breakageof the balancing shaft, the cables for connecting the doors with thedrums on the balancing shaft, the balancing springs or other parts, willnot allow the doorto slide downwardly to closed position, due to theweight thereof, but the locking bolt will automatically coact withopenings formed in'the track members to prevent such closing of thedoor.,-;

Still a further object is to provide a continu'- ously closed wiper typeof joint between the door sections to prevent an operator from gettinghis 4 fingers pinched by the door sections as -they,pifv

otally operate relative to each other.--"dur 1t raising and loweringmovements of the door Another object is to provide rollers 'forjsupporting the door, the rollers having resilient faces whereby to cushionthe device it noiseless during operation.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated. in theaccompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an inside elevation of a garage door and make manufacturingprocesses and expenses.

Figure 21s a si'deeleyation of the same.

Figure Bis an genlarged, sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig'iire 2illustrating part of the courlter-bal ancing means.

Figures-is a sectlo'nal view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, illustrating;a ratchet and pawl mechanismfor holding springs .of the counter-balanc-1 mgmeans-nnder 'tension.

Figure 5 flliii eb'tioiial view on the line 5-5 of Figure lillustratinflthe coaction between the side iamb, tracks for' the door,the door and the supportingjroller thereof.

Figure dis anenlarged, sectional view on the line 6- 6 of Figure l,illlustrating a cam means for retainingjthe door in tightly closedposition against the side jambsof the door opening.

Figure '7 is a sectional view on the line 'l'7 of Figure 2, illustratinga pulley over which the door supporting cables extend.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 1,illustrating the joint between the sections of the door.

Figure 9 is an enlarged, sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 1,illustrating a safety bolt construction. A

Figure 10 is an enlarged, inside elevation of the safety boltconstruction, parts thereof being broken away and parts being shown insection; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line 11--11 of Figure 10.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate the wall of a garage or other building. A door opening isprovided in the wall 10 and is defined by a head jamb l2 and side jambs14.

My door construction includes vertical track members. 1'6-and horizontaltrack members 18. The track members 16 and 18 are substantially channelshaped in cross section as shown in Figure 3 for instance, with theexceptions-of a bead portion 20 and a flange '22, extendinglengthwise ofthe track members. v

The track members 16 are adapted' for securing to the vertical sidejambs 14 as for instance by 1' means of countersunk screws orbolta 24 towhich .access may be had with ascrew driver through openings 26formed'=;.on' the inner flangeofithe channei shaped track members 16.(See Figure. 9.)

,The horizontal track members 18 are of a shape similar to the trackmembers 16 to simplify In order to make the track members 16 and 18 ofsimilar shape they are provided with 45 degree may be arranged at rightangles to each other. 0

riveted or otherwise secured to the track members 16 and 18 and on whicha pulley 32 is journaled.

As best shown in Figure 1, it will be obvious that the tracks are madein pairs, one for each side of the door and two of the pulleys 32 areprovided.

The door itself consists of a pair of sections indicated at 34 and 36.The sections 34 and 36 are hinged together by hinges 38. The joint 40between the sections 34 and 36 is curved as best shown in Figure 8.

The curve is formed from a radius from a center slightly ofiset from thecenter of the hinges 38 so that as the door moves from a vertical openposition to a horizontal closed position and the hinges bend during thisoperation there will be a practically continuous wiper type of jointbetween the door sections 34 and 36 as indicated by dotted lines.

The further the door sections hinge from alignment the wider this jointbecomes, and the nearer the door sections come to alignment the closerthe joint becomes as fully shown in Figure 8 by the dotted line 42. Thisconstruction eliminates an open crack in which an operators fingersmight be crushed when lowering the door.

The door sections 34 and 36 are supported by rollers 44 which arejournaled on studs 46 projecting from brackets 48. The brackets 48 aresuitably secured to the door sections by means of screws and bolts orthe like. (See Figure 5.)

It may here be mentioned that the rollers 44 are faced with resilientmaterial 50 so that the operation of the door is silent. The rollers 44are free to move longitudinally of the axes of the studs 46 but arelimited against movement in the channel shaped track members 16 and 18by the beads 20 and the flanges 22.

In this way the door sections 34 and 36 are free to move sidewiserelative to the rollers and are guided by the flanges 22 which arearranged close to the side edges of the door sections for the purpose offorming in conjunction therewith a wind stop joint.

, The resilient facing 50 contacts with the beads 20 and flanges 22 soas to silence any side movement of the rollers when they contact withthe beads and flanges during the operation of the door.

The diameter of each roller 44 is substantially less than the distancebetween the flanges of the channel shaped track members so as to preventany binding of the door during raising or lowering movements.

When the door is in closed position, however, it is desirable to have ittightly pressed against the jamb and this may be done by means of camblocks 52 (see Figures 2, 5 and 6) arranged at the positions assumed bythe rollers when the door is closed. The cam blocks 52 are coincidentwith the rollers 44, which are shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Thethickness of the cam blocks 52 is such that the door is pressed tightlyagainst the side jambs 14 when the door is in closed position, but nottoo tight to permit of manually sliding the door when in the positionshown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6.

It is desirable to counter-balance the door so that the entire weightthereof will not have to be contended with when opening it. I provide acounter-balancing means in the form of bearing members 54 secured to thehoriontally extending tracks 18 and supported thereby.

The tracks 18 themselves are in turn supported by means of bolts or thelike 56 extending through rafters 58 or other suitable supports and ifnecessary blocking 60 may be interposed between the rafters and thetrack sections.

The bearing members 54 rotatably support a balancing shaft 62 to whichis secured drums 64. Cables 66 are secured to the drums 64 and Woundthereon. The cables extend from the drums over the pulleys 32 andconnect with arms 68 of the safety bolts hereafter to be described.

Thus, the weight of the door. may be supported by the cables and thebalancing shaft 62 in conjunction witha pair of springs 70 under tensionand acting upon the shaft 62 to rotate it.

Ball bearings 72 are preferably provided for journaling the shaft 62relative to the bearing members 54. The races of the ball bearings 72are free to move longitudinally in the bores of the bearing members 54but are limited against outward movement by hubs 64a on the drums 64.

The ball bearings '72 are limited against inward movement by means ofsleeves 74 (extending into the bore of thebearing members 54) which arein turn held against movement away from the ball bearings 72 by collars76 secured to the balancing shaft 62.

Ratchet teeth 78 are formed on the sleeves 74 and one end of each spring70 is secured by means of a cap screw 80 or the like to the sleeves 74.The opposite end of each spring 70 is secured by a cap screw 82 or thelike to collars 84 and to the shaft 62 all as best shown in Figure 3.

The sleeves 74 may be rotated by engaging a rotating the sleeve '74.

The sleeves may be locked in any desired position for maintaining thetension of the springs 70 by pawls 88 which are merely pins slidablymounted in the bearing members 54, (see Figures 3 and 4).

The positioning of the balancing shaft and associated parts on the trackportions 18 is a very desirable construction, inasmuch as the balancingshaft assembly may be completed and then lifted into place and securedto the tracks 18, after which the springs 70 may be placed under tensionas desired.

For locking the door in closed position any desired type of lock maybeused and on the drawings I have illustrated a rotatable disc 90, pivotedlevers 92 and links 94.

Referring to Figure 1, the disc 90 may be rotated clockwise forextending the upper ends of the arms 92 between the inner flanges of thetrack members 16 and the door member 36.

This will allow slight upward movement of the door, but as soon as theupper rollers start into the curved portion 16a of the tracks 16 anyfurther opening of the door will be prevented. A look 96 is provided forlocking the disc 90 by a key 98 and thereby locking the door in closedposition (see Figure 8). Operating handles 100 and 102 areprovided forrotating the disc 90.

In connection with my door I have provided a safety lock to preventclosing of the door in lowermost rollers 44. Each locking bolt struc- Iture comprises a spring 106 interposed between a portion of a supportingbracket 48a and a.

shoulder 108 formed on the stud 46a, (see Figures 9, 10, and 11). Thelocking bolt arm 68 is pivotally-mounted in the bracket 48a and isadapted to normally engage a flange 63;; thereof. A pin extends upwardlyfrom the arm 68 and contacts with the shoulder 108.

It will be obvious that the weight of the door imposed on the cables 66will maintain the arms 68 against the flanges 68a and keep the studs 46in retracted position against the action of the springs 106.

However, when the cable 66 is released by breaking thereof, a breakdownof the pulley 32, breakage of the drum 64, the shaft 62 or the spring'70, the spring 106 will force the stud 46a, outwardly against the webof the channel shaped track member 16 and into one of the openings 104when the stud 46a comes in alignment therewith. This position isillustrated in dotted lines in Figure 10 of the drawings.

A safety feature of this-character in order to really be safe, must beoperated from time to time. By my present construction it is operatedevery time the door is raised to open position.

It will be obvious that when the door section 34 assumes the 'dottedline position shown in Figure 2 the weight on the cable will be muchless, and furthermore the cable will be at a decided angle relative toits original lifting position on the arm 68 so that the studs 46a willbe extended by the springs 106 while, and each time, the door is movedto open position. The track members 16, it will be noted, do not haveany openings 104 above a point substantially spaced below the pulley 32so that the extended studs 46a will engage the webs of the track membersand will, therefore, permit closing of the door from the dotted lineposition in Figure 2.

There are two balancing springs. Generally only one of these or onecable will fail, and thus never more than one-half the weight of thedoor will ever have to be stopped by the safety bolt.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my device with-v out departing from the real spirit and purposeof my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, anymodified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:-

1. In a device of the class disclosed, door jambs defining a dooropening, track members along said jambs, a door having projections fortravel on said track members, a bearing member, a balancing shaftjournaled in said bearing member, a drum on said shaft, a cable on saiddrum, connected with said door, a ratchet wheel rotatable within saidbearing, a pawl for retaining the ratchet wheel in a desired position,and a spring having one end secured to the ratchet wheel and its otherend secured to the balancing shaft to balance the weight of said door.

2. In a device of the class disclosed, door jambs defining'a dooropening, vertically arranged track members along said jambs, a doorhaving projections for travel on said track members, a bearing member, abalancing shaft journaled in said bearing member, a drum on said shaft,a cable on said drum connected with said door, a ratchet wheel,

a pawl for retaining the ratchet wheel in a desired position, saidratchet wheel engaging one end of said bearing member and therebylimited against movement in one direction longitudinally of itsaxis,.means on the shaft to limit it against movement in anopposite-direction, and a spring having one end secured to the ratchetwheel and its other end secured to the balancing shaft to balance theweight of said door.

3. In a device of the class disclosed, door jambs defining a dooropening, track members along said jambs, a door having projections fortravel on said track members, a bearing member, a balancing shaftjournaled in said bearing member, a drum on said shaft, a cable on saiddrum connected with said door, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for retaining theratchet wheel ina desired position, said ratchet wheel engaging one endof said bearing member and thereby limited against movement in onedirection longitudinally of its axis, means on the shaft to limit'itagainst movement in an opposite direction, said drum engaging saidbearing member and thereby limiting the shaft against movement in thefirst mentioned direction, and a spring having one end secured to theratchet wheel and its other end secured to the balancing shaft tobalance the weight of said door. 1

4. In a device of the class disclosed, a slidable door, a tracktherefor, spaced openings in said track, a safety bolt on the door,counterbalancing means for the door, said counterbalancing meansincluding a cable, said safety bolt comprising a spring extended,slidably mounted bolt for coaction with one of the openings in saidtrack, a retracting lever connected with said cable whereby the weightof the door maintains the bolt retracted, and a roller for supportingthe door and journaled on said bolt.

5. In a device of the class disclosed, a slidable door, an L-shapedtrack therefor, spaced openings in said track, a safety bolt on thedoor, counterbalancing means for the door, saidcounterbalancing meansincluding a cable, said safety bolt comprising a spring extended boltfor coaction with one of the openings in said track, and a retractinglever connected with said cable whereby the weight of the door maintainsthe bolt retracted, the door, during its sliding movement relative tothe L shaped track from closed to open position, assuming a positionadjacent full open position where the weight of the door is sufiicientlyreduced on the cable so that said spring extended bolt will be extended.

6. In a door operating mechanism, spaced tracks related to a dooropening, a door comprising articulatable hinged sections for closingsaid opening, shafts on said sections having'rollers arranged to engagesaid tracks to slidably sup- SERN MADSEN.

